Shackle seal



w. MC BROOKS sept. 13, w49.

SHACKLE SEAL 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 10, 1948 Wznfkeo MB1/001%- W. M. BROOKS SHACKLE SEAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WL'IWELCZM.BT0

Sept. 13, 1949.

Filed March 10, 1948 atented Sept. 13, 1949 Winfred M. Brooks,

West Orange, N. J., as'signor to E. J. Brooks Company, Newark, N. J, a corporation of New Jersey Application March 10, 1948, Serial No 13,990 3 Claims. (o1. zee sn) This' invention relates to self-locking shackle seals composed of a band of sheet-material having a head at one end for the reception of the other and free end of a reverse-section when said band is doubled back upon itself and the reverse-section is inserted in the head. All seals of this type can be opened, and the object of this invention is to so construct the seal that it will take a relatively long time to open it once it has been closed, and that evidence of tampering will clearly appear if it is attempted to open the seal, so that an unscrupulous person will likely be -discouraged from completely opening the seal when he realizes that evidence of tampering cannot be avoided.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention is disclosed in a concrete and preferred form in which: l

Figure 1 is a plan View of the seal in its open position;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view substantially on the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the reverse face of the seal;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but on a larger scale and with the seal in its closed position;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view substantially on the plane of line 5-5 of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the seal with the channel member removed, with the end-section of the shackle bent away from the headsection so as to expose the interior of the head of the seal, and with the shackle bent so as to expose the underside of the reverse-section;

Figure '7 is a perspective view of one face of the head of the seal with the parts in closed position;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 but showing the reverse face of the head of the seal; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the head of the seal, similar to Figure '7, but with the reverse-section removed.

' 20 indicates a band of sheet-material comprising, in the order named, an end-section 2|, a head-section 22, a main-section 23 and a reverse-section 24, which latter isv narrower than the other sections. End-section 2| lies folded back longitudinally over head-section 22 and has 25 to overlie, engage and be secured to longitudinal marginal face portions 26 of head-section 22, to form a head 40, narrower than said band, provided with an opening 4| for the reception of reverse-section 24. Said end-section 2| and said head-section 22 have complementary and longitudinal grooves 2l and 28 that extend centrally thereof for the reception of the longitudinal beads, presently to be described, in said reversesection 2G. ZSindicates one or more transverse weakened zones in end-section 2|, one of which preferably lies at the terminus of longitudinal groove 2l. Said reverse-section 24 and headsection A22 have complementary interlocking means which, in the present instance, consist of two spurs or prongs 3U and 3| that interlock when reverse-section 24 is inserted a sulicient distance into head 4G and it is attempted to pull it out again. 32 indicates three longitudinal beads pressed from opposite faces of reversesection 213, which beads lie in the complementary grooves in end-section 2| and head-section 22, when saidreverse-section 24 is in position in head eid. These beads constitute abutments that block access to the inter-locking means and it will be seen that abutment 33 will be encountered by a tool inserted between reverse-section 24 and end-section 2| and that the other abutment 3a will be encountered by a tool inserted between reverse-section 24 and head-section 22. It will further be seen that beads 32 also constitute one or more transverse weakened zones in reverse-section 24. 35 indicates a channel member of sheet-material that embraces head-secof end-section 2|, and said head-section, endsection and channel member 35 are secured together by transverse crimps 37.

If it is now attempted to separate end-section 2| from head-section evidence of tampering will be evident. it be attempted to separate prongs 3|! pulling them apart wlthout attempting to pry open the end-section, then the metal of said reverse-section will become ruptured, byreason of the weakened 'zone formed by beads 32, and will thus frustrate the attempt to open the seal.

indicated or to pry up marginal anges 36 of channel member 35. For it will be noted that marginal depressions 25 of end-section 2|' extend longitudinally beyond opening 4| of head 4B, and are connected by a transversely extending lip 43 which forms a part of end-section 2l and is located in front of said opening 4l. Marginal flanges 36 of channel member 35 likewise extend beyond opening 4|. It will therefore be seen, when reversesection 24 is inserted over lip 43 and through opening 4| and: irr between end-section 1li andf head--u section 22s4 thatithat parli 44 0E main-section, 23% that is adjacent reverse-section 24 overlies lip 43 and the ends of vmarginal anges 36 of the chante-"AV nel member.

I claim: Y

l. In a self-locking shaclcla seal, etaI band and a channel memberbctl-i di sheeternath` rial, said band having a head at one end for the reception of the other and free. y y when said band is doubled back on itselfn; said band comprising, in the order named, an errdesection, a head-section, amain-section, and a reverses-section that isfnarrcwerthan: the-band.;- saldi endesection-Y lying iolded. bacls l'ongitudinally over said head-section andl having. longitudinally. eXatending marginal depressions that' engage longie tudfinal: marginal portions ot saldi head-*section to.Y fornita headiwhichiis-narrower than'. said .bandand which is provided with an opening. fon the. re:-` ception of said, reverser-sentions;V said. marginal; depressions extending longitudinally beyond: said opening; in. sai-d1V verselyn extending, lin-forming a'. part kof.; saidend"-` section,` located" in trontcof said: openil'lgA of; said head; said? channelr member embracingsaidE head1-t section and having marginali flanges that overlie said= marginal depressions of saidlend-'sentionz and secure: said marginal depressions of said; emr-sec tion andsaid marginal pontixms: of.' said.head1-1Samtion; together; said reverse#sectiony and liead'esece tion; having complementary: interlocking' means that engage when said reverseseotioniis inserted oven said lip.- andv through, said; opening: between saidl head-section and saidfi endesection.. thatpart of said main-section that-:is adiac'entsaidxreversee section:'overlyingV said, lipi and: the ends; of said nriargin'alV flanges of said; channel member..

2; In a self-locking shackle-.seal composedof'a bandand a channel memberbotlfl` ot shee'tn'n'a-te-l rial; said handhaving a headat oneiend: for therre= ceptidn of the' other and free'. end cf said band when said band is doubled on; itself; saiid band comprising, in the order' named an. end? section; a head1-section@ .mainesectitnl and a re1-V verse-'sectiorrthat is nartrower.thanA thebandf; 'said end-section lying foldedbacle;longitudinally' over said head-section and; havinglongitudinally extending marginal; depressions that: engagg. longi tudinal marginal' portions: off headsctiert to formav headwhichl is'narrower thanisai'd: bandiand which is provided-,with am opening; torithe? recap; tion of saidrevers'e-sectiony saidiendsecti'o'n and saidhead1-section having. cpniplen'entary.` longi-` tudinal grooves for? the reception ofi longitudinal beadsv insaid; reverseesectinn.; anidsaizd.' andi-stati'L tion having one or mura; transverseweakened zones; saidv reverse-section andzsaidheadusectio'r having complementary interlocking meanstlat engage when. the reverser-section: isi` inserted" bet-4 tweensaid head-section andi said erdsectiorr; said reverse#--secti'on' having; longitudinat beads pressed trom its oppositet'acesto liesirrthei cuni@` end ot said band` l head. and; connected byi'a transe' w saidmarginal anges plementary grooves in said end-section and said head-section when inserted in said head to thereby constitute abutments that block access to said interlocking means, one of which abutments will be encountered by a tool inserted between said reverse-section and said end-section, and the other abutment of which will be encountered by a tool inserted-iY .between said neversefsection and said li'eadesection, te thereby# proitidegfulcra loiithe inserted tool that will direct the bending of said end-section along the weakened zone thereof; said beads further constituting a transverse weakened Zone in said reverse-section; and said channel member embracing said head-section and having marginal flanges" that overlie said marginal depressions on saidi Y end-section, and secure said marginal depressions of said end-section and said marginal portions of said head-section together.

3e In a, self-locking shackle seal composed of a band and a channel member both of sheet-material, saidy band. having. ahead at one. endv for the receptionof the other andtee ot said band whenfsaid band is doubledback on itself; said;l bandV comprising, in the order namedifan endsection, a head-seotion,a mainfsect'io'n, anda reverse-section` that is narrowerthanthe band.; ysaid end-section lying toldv Vback longitudinally over said head-section andhaving( longitudinally extending marginal depressions thatengage longitudinalf marginallpo ,tions o i vsaid head-section-to form ahead whichisnarrower than said band. and whichtis provided withan orxning-k for the reception ot said reverse-section;` said'. marginal de-lV pressions extending longitudinally beyond said opening otsaid head and-connected by avr transverselyl extending4 lip forming a partici said endsection, located in front ot said 'opening 01E-said head; said channel member embracing saidflrleadA sectionl and having marginal flanges; that overlie said marginal depressions of said end-section` and; secure said marginal depressions of said endl-esection and: said marginal portions of said. headsec'- tion together; tion having complementary interlocking ymeans; that engage when saidA reverse-section is inserted oversaid'v lipi and through` said opening'rvrei'lweeniV i said head-section and said end-section, that; partot saidmain-sectionl that is `adiacent said,I` reverse-section overlying saidlip and thev enlds or said end-sec-:tionI and said headsectionhaving-V complementarylongitudinal grooves for the-ree* ceptiony of longitudinal beads in: said; reversefsec-l tion; said reverse-section havingA longitudinal; beadspressedtromits'oppositeffaces to lie inthe complementary groovesin said end-section and said head-sectionwhen inserted in saidy head to thereby constitute abutments that block access tor said. interlockingmeans; one of which' abutments willlbe encounteredfby a tool-inserted between: saidv reverse-sectien;V and said endesectioni,, and-- the other abutment of which-will= be` encountered by,v a tool inserted between said reverser-section and saidyheadf-section,v to thereby providegulcna for the inserted tool that will. directthe bendingot said end-sectionalong-,the weakened zonethereof saidbeadstur-ther constitutingla transverserweafke enedzone. im said reversesections No refereneescitea saidreverse.section. and head-sec- Y of saidfichannelf member; 

